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Time of India
8 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Symptoms mild but Cov admissions rise, hosps expand isolation facilities
1 2 Kolkata: The spike in Covid patients in Kolkata and the rest of Bengal makes the elderly with comorbidities and children, especially those who suffered an adenovirus infection or pneumonia over the past three years, vulnerable to the existing Covid strains, say pulmonologists. Patients, suffering from associated respiratory illnesses, such as recurring bouts of asthma, frequent bronchitis, COPD or respiratory distress, were at a greater risk of getting Covid, they warned. Several private hospitals have started expanding their Covid units. While the infection might be mild for most, if numbers kept rising at the current rate, a significant section could get a severe disease, said CMRI Hospital pulmonology director Raja Dhar. "As the elderly and children are more vulnerable, the number of affected will swell, leading to a rise in severe cases. So, we need to isolate positives to curb transmission and ramp up testing, prevention measures and isolation facilities. Else, we will have an explosion of patients as a small number of severe cases could also be huge in our country," Dhar said. Five Covid patients are now admitted to CMRI, which has identified 14 beds, which could be scaled up to 32, if need be. Dhar added the current strain, believed to be Jn.1, a variant of Omicron, was highly transmissible though less virulent. Peerless Hospital has identified a ward with a dialysis facility and earmarked an eight-bed ITU for severe cases. The hospital now has two patients admitted, both stable. "We can accommodate five to 10 stable Covid patients immediately and at least eight severe patients at an ITU that can be converted," said Peerless CEO Sudipta Mitra. Two Covid patients are now admitted to RN Tagore Hospital, both stable. "If the numbers rise exponentially, severe cases will also go up. In terms of percentage, the number could be small, but in absolute numbers, we may have more severe cases over the next fortnight," said RN Tagore intensivist Sauren Panja. Covid patients at Manipal Hospitals were released by Sunday. "Our Dhakuria, Mukundapur and Salt Lake Broadway units each has an isolation unit. We are contemplating an isolation area to segregate suspected cases," said Manipal infectious diseases physician Sayan Chakrabarty. He added while symptoms remained muted, faster transmission might change the scene. "Those with lung ailments have the risk of aggravation if they get Covid. " At Charnock Hospital, a 'wider clinical team' has been set up. "Use of hand sanitisers and masks at the hospital has been reinstated. The hospital is setting up isolation wards and ICU beds for confirmed or suspected Covid cases. Patients with symptoms are being screened," said a Charnock spokesperson. Woodlands Multispecialty Hospital, which has identified a five-bed isolation unit, has one Covid patient admitted. "If numbers rise, we will use it. We have stepped up preventive measures and ramped up tests," said CEO Rupak Barua.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Plea for La Martiniere water seepage repair ahead of inspection tomorrow
Kolkata: Ahead of the Calcutta High Court-directed joint inspection of the heritage buildings at La Martiniere schools in Kolkata on Monday, school secretary Supriyo Dhar pointed at water seepage at the main buildings of both the boys' and girls' schools to flag the urgent need to carry out preventive repairs and maintenance. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The buildings are 190 years old. Dhar told TOI on Saturday that water seepage during pre-monsoon showers was further damaging the heritage buildings. "Seepage is causing damp and cracks. The seepage will increase in monsoon unless we repair it urgently. It is a challenge to keep a two-century-old building functional. It gets even more difficult if the KMC does not cooperate," said Dhar, citing 10 letters from the school to the civic body, pleading for repairs during the summer vacation. On May 21, a large chunk of plaster from the ceiling, measuring 10ft × 3ft, fell 40 ft below on the ground floor at the boys' school. Dhar said workers were at the spot minutes before the incident. "What would have happened had the plaster fallen on them? If it was not summer vacation, such collapsing debris could have caused severe injuries or fatalities to students. Around 6,000 children study in the two schools. Their safety is our responsibility," said Dhar. Stressing the need for constant maintenance of heritage structures to ensure occupant safety, he said the hurdles posed by KMC in carrying out preventive repairs were a key reason behind the school moving court to get the properties off the KMC heritage list. Repairs and preventive restoration were the most responsible approach to heritage building maintenance, addressing structural concerns before they were irreversibly damaged, he said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now La Martiniere has multiple cases at the Calcutta HC on this issue. It filed a case, challenging a KMC stop-work notice last Nov after the school's alumni association moved the civic body over the replacement of its historic steps with marble tiles. The school management maintained it did not carry out any renovation, construction or demolition but only repairs and routine maintenance. Thereafter, the school moved court, seeking the delisting of the twin schools from the heritage list. Later, on KMC suggestion, La Martiniere appointed KMC-empanelled restoration architect Partha Ranjan Das to guide it on repairs and maintenance of the heritage buildings. When the civic body failed to clear the repair proposals, the school again moved the HC. Based on this appeal that the court ordered a joint inspection.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
AMNS India targets 25% share in colour-coated steel market with new Optigal product line
New Delhi: ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India ( AMNS India ) announced the launch of two new colour-coated steel products— Optigal Prime and Optigal Pinnacle —as part of its strategy to capture a 25 per cent share in India's 3.4 million tonne colour-coated steel market within the next two to three years. The announcement comes amid a steady 10–12 per cent annual growth in domestic demand for colour-coated steel, driven by sectors such as airports, railways, metro projects, and highways. 'We have launched Optigal Prime and Optigal Pinnacle , a totally new product range in the domestic steel industry, to cater to this demand. We are targeting sectors like highways, railways, metros, airports with our innovative and sustainable product,' said Ranjan Dhar, Director and Vice President, Sales and Marketing, AMNS India. Dhar said AMNS India is currently the only domestic producer of C4 category high-end corrosion-resistant colour-coated steel, which until now was available only in European markets. The new product line will be manufactured at the company's Pune facility. AMNS India's current colour-coated steel capacity stands at around 7 lakh tonnes annually, with plans to scale up to one million tonnes in the near future. Optigal Prime is designed for urban and moderately corrosive environments and comes with a 15-year warranty. It is available in finishes such as Silicon Modified Polyester (SMP), Super Durable Polyester (SDP), and PVDF. Optigal Pinnacle, positioned for more demanding industrial and coastal applications, is backed by a 25-year warranty and features PU/PA coatings for protection against moisture, UV exposure, and temperature variations. Six specialised variants of Optigal Prime and Optigal Pinnacle—High Gloss, Anti-Dust, Anti-Graffiti, Anti-Static, Anti-Microbial, and Cool Roof—have been developed using Zinc-Aluminium-Magnesium technology. This coating provides up to three times the corrosion and weather resistance compared to conventional coatings. The company said these new offerings will help support the government's infrastructure goals under the 'Viksit Bharat' programme. The products have been designed in line with the 'Make in India' initiative, incorporating low VOC emissions, no heavy metals or hexavalent chromium, and 100 per cent recyclability. 'These products mark a significant step forward as we continue to strengthen our value-added product portfolio in line with our brand promise – Smarter Steels, Brighter Futures,' Dhar said. The launch is aligned with the company's focus on expanding its value-added steel segment and meeting demand from India's rapidly growing infrastructure and construction sectors.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
AM/NS India launches two new patented steel products under Optigal
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) on Friday announced the launch of two products — Optigal Prime and Optigal Pinnacle — in its premium colour-coated steel portfolio, Optigal. With this launch, AM/NS India strengthens its position in the colour-coated steel market in India, introducing European-standard, highly corrosion-resistant steel for use in high-end infrastructure and construction projects such as state-of-the-art airports, railway stations, highways, and large buildings for the first time. Colour-coated steel is used in a variety of applications, primarily in construction, home appliances, furniture, and transportation. It is also popular for roofing, wall cladding, architectural facades, and interior decoration due to its durability, aesthetic appeal, and weather resistance. Major companies such as JSW Steel, Tata Steel, and Essar Steel are significant players in this sector. AM/NS is pioneering a new market segment in high-quality C4 specialty steel, previously unavailable in India, where it now stands as the sole domestic producer, said Ranjan Dhar, Director and Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at a press conference. The product will support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for accelerated development, which is key to achieving a Viksit Bharat. The steelmaker is targeting a dominant position in this segment and a 25 per cent share in the overall colour-coated steel market, Dhar added. The colour-coated steel segment in India, currently estimated at 3.4 million tonnes (mt), is growing at a sustained pace of around 10 per cent annually. The addition of two new specialised Optigal offerings will bring AM/NS India closer to its goal of securing 25 per cent of the market within the next two to three years, Dhar said. Optigal Prime is suited for urban and moderately corrosive environments, offering a 15-year warranty. Available in advanced finishes such as Silicon Modified Polyester (SMP), Super Durable Polyester (SDP), and PVDF, it is an ideal choice for roofing, cladding, and a range of other construction needs. Backed by a 25-year warranty, Optigal Pinnacle is designed for harsh industrial and coastal conditions, featuring high-performance PU/PA coatings that offer superior resistance to moisture, UV rays, and extreme temperatures — making it suitable for demanding applications such as airports, warehouses, and marine-facing buildings. AM/NS has already secured its first order, Dhar noted, although he did not disclose the order size. Six specialised variants of Optigal Prime and Optigal Pinnacle will be available — high gloss, anti-dust, anti-graffiti, anti-static, anti-microbial, and cool roof — catering to diverse requirements for high-performance steel solutions in India's rapidly expanding construction and infrastructure sectors. These variants have been developed using advanced zinc-aluminium-magnesium technology to deliver superior protection from corrosion and weathering — up to three times that of conventional coatings. As part of AM/NS India's commitment to the 'Make in India' initiative, these steel solutions have been designed with an eco-conscious approach — featuring low VOC emissions, no heavy metals or hexavalent chromium, and 100 per cent recyclability, making them an excellent choice for sustainable and future-ready construction. Optigal products are being manufactured at the company's state-of-the-art facility in Pune, Maharashtra. The company's colour-coated steel capacity currently stands at about 700,000 tonnes annually, with plans to expand to 1 mt soon. On exports of these products, Dhar said the company will first cater to domestic demand and then look at West Asian countries if opportunities emerge.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
AMNS India eyes 25 pc share in domestic colour-coated market with new product line
AMNS India has launched Optigal Prime and Optigal Pinnacle, a new colour-coated steel product line, targeting infrastructure sectors like airports and railways, aiming for a 25% market share in the next few years. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads To tap the growing demand for colour-coated steel in India, AMNS India on Friday announced the launch of a new product line to cater to segments like airports, railways and metro demand for colour-coated steel is growing in the range of 10-12 per cent in India and AMNS India also plans to increase its capacity in this segment soon, the company's Director & Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Ranjan Dhar told reporters here."We have launched Optigal Prime and Optigal Pinnacle , a totally new product range in the domestic steel industry, to cater to this demand. We are targeting sectors like highways, railways, metros, airports with our innovative and sustainable product," he colour-coated steel segment in India is estimated to be 3.4 million tonnes market at present. The addition of two new specialised Optigal offerings will bring AMNS India closer towards its goal of securing 25 per cent within the next two to three years, he said that the high-end corrosion-resistant steel has been produced for the first time in India, he said. Until now this product was being produced only in director further said the high-performance steel solutions address diverse climatic and industrial demands. It has been prepared to meet India's evolving needs in infrastructure and construction as it moves ahead with journey of becoming 'Viksit Bharat'.When asked about reports of India becoming the world's fourth-largest economy, Dhar emphasized the critical role of steel in economic development."Rapid construction is not possible without steel. Look at China or South Korea—steel has been the backbone of their accelerated growth. With advanced steel solutions, projects that used to take 3–4 years using traditional methods can now be completed in less than a year,' he India currently has a colour-coated steel production capacity of approximately 700,000 tonnes annually, with plans underway to increase it to 1 million tonnes in the near future. The new products are being manufactured at the company's facility in Pune, Maharashtra.
